Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a support device for supporting a seat on an axle
of a wheelchair and to a wheelchair comprising the device.
The Problem Underlying the Invention
[0002] The present invention seeks to improve comfort for wheelchair users and in particular
to solve the problem of shock loads transmission into the spinal and skeleton parts
of the human body. Furthermore, the present invention seeks to provide devices and
components for wheelchairs that take individual preferences of a wheelchair user into
account. An objective is thus to provide a wheelchair or wheelchair components that
permit easy adaptions to the surface on which said wheelchair is intended to roll
or to other varying circumstances. In particular, it is an objective of providing
components for a wheelchair, which can easily be replaced according to the wheelchair
user's needs, preferably by the wheelchair user alone.
[0003] Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide means for adjusting
the height of the seat surface of a wheelchair. It is also an objective to provide
for the possibility of adjusting the shock absorbing and springing characteristics
of a wheelchair. The latter may be important to adapt the wheelchair according to
the weight of the user, according to the surface on which the wheelchair is rolling
and also to individual preferences of the user.
[0004] In general, the present invention relates to non-motorized wheelchairs. Such wheelchairs
are generally hand driven and are advantageously light in weight. It is thus a further
objective to provide a wheelchair that is optimised in terms of material utilisation
and provides for high stability at relatively low weight.
[0005] US 6,168,178 describes a wheelchair in which the chassis of the wheelchair can be converted from
a rigid chassis to a suspension chassis and vice versa. However, the conversion is
quite labour-intensive and complex as it implies the removal or addition of several
components. Furthermore, the device disclosed in this reference does not allow to
adjust further parameters of the wheelchair, such as seat height. Furthermore, mechanical
forces are disadvantageously distributed in this device.
[0006] BE 529 233 describes a wheelchair in which the seat is supported on the axle of the rear wheels
by an upright articulated to the seat, said upright consisting of two tubes, one sliding
into the other, and a compression spring fixedly connected at its two ends to the
tubes. However, this prior art does not provide a highly compact construction for
the wheelchair.
Summary of Invention
[0007] The present invention concerns a support device according to claim 1.
[0008] In another aspect, the present invention provides a wheelchair according to claim
13.
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are specified in the appended dependent
claims, as well as in the detailed description herein below.
Brief description of the drawings
[0010]
Figure 1 shows a three quarter bottom front view of a wheelchair comprising a fist embodiment
of the support device of the invention.
Figure 2 is a close front view of a first embodiment of a support device according to the
present invention.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the embodiment of Figure 2.
Figure 4A is a perspective view of a central part for pivotally lodging the support device
of the present invention.
Figure 4B is a horizontal section of the central part of Figure 4A.
Figure 4C is a vertical, lateral section of the central part at line B-B shown in Figure 4B.
Figure 5A is a perspective view of the pivot part of the support device of the present invention.
Figure 5B is a longitudinal vertical section of the pivot part of Figure 5A.
Figure 6A is a perspective view of the lower part of the fixing element of the support device
of the present invention.
Figure 6B is a vertical transverse section of the lower part of Figure 6A.
Figures 7A is a perspective view of the upper part of the fixing element of the support device
of the present invention.
Figures 7B is a vertical transverse section of the upper part of Figure 7A.
Figure 8 is a close front view of a second embodiment of a support device according to the
present invention.
Figure 9 is a close front view of a third embodiment of a support device according to the
present invention.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of the embodiment of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a close front view of a fourth embodiment of a support device according to the
present invention.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal vertical section of the embodiment of Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a close front view of a fifth embodiment of a support device according to the
present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0011] Various embodiments according to the present invention will be now described by way
of example with reference to the appended drawing figures.
[0012] Figure 1 shows a wheelchair
1 according to the present invention. The wheelchair is hand-driven. As usual in wheelchairs,
there is a seat
2 for accommodating a wheelchair user, said seat comprising a seat surface
13 and a backrest
12. The perspective of a user seated in the wheelchair defines the left, right, front
and rear sides of the wheelchair. Given that Figure 1 represents a front view, the
right side of Figure 1 corresponds to the left side of the wheelchair and vice versa.
Left and right main wheels
3, 4, are connected at their central points by a transversal axle
5. The wheels are equipped with parallel-grip-rings for manual propulsion.
[0013] Left and right frame tubes
6, 7, emerge from below the seat towards left and right front sides of the wheelchair.
[0014] The frame tubes are bent, with their ends extending downwardly in the front part
of the wheelchair. Laterally at said front ends, support structures for lodging left
and right castor wheels
8, 9, respectively, are attached, for example by welding, to each left and right frame
tube
6, 7. A U-shaped foot-rest
11 connects the left and right frame tubes
6, 7 at their bottom ends. The outer tube circumference of the foot-rest
11 is equal or slightly smaller than the inner circumference of the left and right main
frame tubes at their bottom ends. In this way, the left and right lateral parts of
the foot-rest
11 telescopically slide within the left and right frame tubes
6, 7, the latter being arranged in parallel at their bottom ends. A number of holes present
in the left and right tubes of the U-shaped foot-rest allows for adjustment of foot-rest
height, by tightening a screw extending from a borings in the left and right frame
tubes,
6, 7, respectively, through said holes in the left and right lateral tubes of the foot
rest.
[0015] As is also visible in Figure 1, the left and right frame tubes,
6, 7, converge with their rear upper ends, where they are fixed to axle
5 of the wheelchair
1. In a position which lies in between the rear ends of the tubes
6, 7, in the mid-point of axle
5, a support device
10 comprising a spring can bee seen. At its upper end, said spring is linked to a tube
15, which is part of the seat chassis, namely of the rear part of said chassis.
[0016] From Figure 1 the role of the two frame tubes
6, 7 can be recognized, as these tubes provide, along with the axle
5, the overall framework of the wheelchair. As indicated, both frame tubes are attached
with their rear part to the left and the right side of the middle point of the axle
5, leaving the middle zone of the axle
5 for bearing the support device. From their rear ends, the frame tubes extend forwardly
and slightly upwardly, diverging towards the lateral left and right front ends of
the seat, where they bend downwardly. Shortly before bending downwards, each left
and right frame tube,
6, 7, is attached to the chassis of the seat of the wheelchair, namely to left and right
seat tubes, respectively.
[0017] Accordingly, the seat
2 is supported at three positions, namely at a central position, substantially vertically
above the axle
5, by the support device
10, and at two lateral positions, near the front of the upper parts of the frames tubes
6, 7, respectively, corresponding to the left and right sides towards the front of the
seat. The unusual arrangement of the left and right frame tubes, being attached with
their rear ends close to the middle point of the axle
5, reminds of legs of a spider.
[0018] As illustrated on
Figures 2 and 3 the first embodiment of the support device
10 of the present invention comprises an intermediate element, located between a pivot
part
23, pivoting into a seat provided in a central part
20 fixed to the axle
5, and a fixing element
24 attached to the seat tube
15. The intermediate element comprises a spring
28 and a shock absorber element
29, the shock absorber element, for example an elastomer element, being located in the
lacuna provided by the spiral turns of the spring
28. At their bottom ends, the spring
28 and the shock absorber element
29 are seated on pivot part
23, which is pivotally attached to the axle
5 by means of a centre part
20 mounted around the axle
5 and which will be described in detail later. The pivoting axis of pivot part
23 is parallel to axle
5. The centre part
20 also harbours, on left and right sides of the pivot part
23, the rear ends of the left and right frame tubes,
6 and
7, respectively. A longitudinal slot
17 in the centre part
20 is visible extending from left to right along the axle
5. This slot is necessary for tightening the centre part
20 around axle
5, while permitting some adjustment of the centre part to the diameter of the axle
5.
[0019] At their top ends, the spring
28 and shock absorber element
29 abut to the lower part
26 of fixing element
24, which will also be described in more detail later.
[0020] As can be seen in Figure 3, a fixing screw
30 extends along the central axis of the support device, through a central hole provided
in the pivot part
23 and a central boring
95 provided in the shock absorber element
29. The screw
30 is anchored in the boring
95 of lower part
26 of fixing element
24, the head
31 of the screw
30 abutting upon an inner sleeve
35 of pivot part
23. In this way, the screw
30, when tightened by a thread or nut present in fixing element
24, attaches the support device of the invention
23, 10, 24 to the seat tube
15, the pivot part being itself pivotally attached to the centre part
20 attached on the middle of axle
5. A ring
32 is preferably located between the head
31 of screw
30 and sleeve
35.
[0021] With respect to the pivotal attachment of the pivot part
23, left and right pins
36, 37, are seated in left and right borings,
38, 39, respectively, provided in the centre part
20 and oriented in parallel to axle
5. As is better visible in Figure 4A to 4C, these left and right borings,
38, 39, are located at the bottom of left and right supports
66, 77, intended to receive the left and right frame tubes, respectively.
[0022] The pins
36, 37 extend from their respective borings
38, 39 in the centre part
20 towards each other, into corresponding borings provided in the centrally located
pivot part
23, thus providing a pivoting articulation for the pivot part
23.
[0023] While pins
36, 37 penetrate into a substantial part of pivot part
23, to provide sufficient footing for the pivoting articulation, they do not extend through
it entirely, but leave a free space
33 in the centre, to permit access to the head
31 of screw
30. As will be discussed further below, the free space
33 is helpful when exchanging the intermediate element
10. Furthermore, the free space
33 may be temporarily occupied by the head
31 of screw
30, when the latter is descending upon compression of spring
28 and shock absorber element
29, upon absorption of shocks experienced by the wheelchair.
[0024] The left and right pins
36, 37, each comprise a head,
42, 43, each of which is threaded in the lateral boring
45, 46, the central borings
38, 39, housing the axel-forming part of the pins
36, 37.
[0025] Figure 3 also shows that pivot part
23 comprises, on its top vertical end, even and substantially horizontal surfaces
47 and
48, on which the shock absorber element
29 and spring
28 bear. Both surfaces
47, 48, if viewed from top, have the form of a ring, with surface
47, on which the shock absorber element
29 bears, having a central opening for the passage of the screw
30. Surface
48 is situated laterally and lower than surface
47 with a radial dimension substantially corresponding to the thickness of the spring
30.
[0026] The bottom end of lower part
26 of fixing element
24 substantially mirrors the dimensions of the top vertical end of pivot part
23, thus providing ring-shaped surfaces
49 and
53. With screw
30 anchored in fixing element
24, spring
28 is stably clamped between surfaces
48 and
53 of the pivot part and the fixing element, respectively. Lateral displacement of the
spring being prevented by the vertical offset of surfaces
47 and
49, respectively. The shock absorber element
29, on the other hand, is clamped between inner, ring-shaped surfaces
47 and
49, and further stabilised by annular protrusions
54 and
55 of the pivot part
23 at the shock absorber element's bottom end and on the fixing element
24 at the shock absorber element's upper end, respectively, said protrusions preventing
lateral displacement of the shock absorber element
29.
[0027] The central part
20 is better represented on
Figures 4A, 4B and
4C. It can be seen that the central part
20 is provided in a single piece. It comprises a free space
16 intended to receive the pivot part
23 and which is sufficiently deep to allow for pivoting of the latter. This free space
16 is actually created by the gap between the left and right cylindrical structures
66, 77, intended to receive the left and right frame tubes
6 and
7, respectively. Openings of the left and right borings
38, 39, are also visible. The distal ends of the cylindrical structures
66, 77, have diameters slightly smaller or equal to the internal diameter of the left and
right frame tubes,
6, 7, respectively, permitting telescopically setting said frame tubes onto said cylindrical
support structures. Left and right holes
61, 62, in each support structure
66, 77 allow for detachably attaching said frame tubes
6, 7 to said support structures
66, 77, for example by means of a screw or a pushable pin. The cylindrical hollow
63, designed to harbour axle
5 is also visible. Also slot
17 and opening
70 are visible.
[0028] Left and right borings
65, 67 are intended to house screws to permit tightening of the central part
20 around axle
5 (see Figure 3), while diminishing the breadth of slot
17 (Figure 4A).
[0029] Figure 4C shows the vertical orientation of boring
67 and the position of slot
17, thus illustrating that central part
20 will be tightened around axle
5 when a screw is tightened in boring
67, compressing slot
17 and thus diminishing the dimension of cylindrical hollow
63, intended to harbour axle
5. A thread for said screw (both not shown in Figure 4C) may be present in the upper
end of boring
67.
[0030] Figures 5A and 5B show further details of pivot part
23. An annular protrusion
54 surrounding boring
75, in which the screw
30 (not visible) is to be held, is provided on top of pivot part. Ridge
76 illustrates the vertical offset between ring-shaped surfaces
47 and
48, which is relevant for preventing lateral movements of intermediate part
10, when placed between pivot part
23 and the lower part
26 of fixing element
24 (not shown). Borings
72 and
73 are intended to harbour the central ends of pins
36, 37.
[0031] Details of the lower part
26 and upper part
25 composing the fixing element
24 forming a clamp around seat tube
15 are shown in
Figures 6A and
6B and in
Figures 7A and
7B respectively.
[0032] In
Figure 6A, the concave surface
80, having a circular form incross-section, is visible. This concave surface
80 is designed to fit with the diameter of the seat tube
15 (not shown) and, when harbouring said tube, covers about half of its circumference.
In the centre of said concave surface
80 the extension of boring
95 is visible, in which screw
30 is to be harboured and tightened by means of a thread. The fixing element
24 has a hinge-joint configuration, with a hinge being formed between lower part
26 and upper part
25, by means of hinge-joint elements
81, 82, with a common central axis, but leaving a gap between them for inserting a corresponding
hinge-joint provided in the upper part
25 (Figure 7). Borings
83 are provided in the other (front) side of concave surface
80, which comprise threads so as to fix said upper part
25 by means of screws to said lower part
26 at the front side of the fixing element
24 (not shown).
[0033] In
Figure 6B, the situation of the even ring-shaped surfaces
53, 49 is indicated. Also the protrusion
55 is visible, in which a boring
95 for harbouring the screw
30 extends (not shown). The section provided in Figure 6B is slightly lateral and extends
vertically along one of the borings
83, thus showing the orientation of the latter in the lower part
26.
[0034] As illustrated by
Figures 7A and
7B, the upper part
25 mainly forms a concave surface
90, which is intended to harbour about half of the circumference of the seat tube
15 (not shown), the other half being covered by concave surface
80 of lower part
26 (see Figures 6A and 6B). The hinge-joint element
84, visible in a central position at the rear part of the upper part
25 is adjusted to fit between hinge-joint elements
81, 82, of lower part
26 and to thus form the hinge joint with the latter, a pin or axle being placed so as
to extend through holes
85 and
86 of the hinge-joint elements of the upper and lower parts
25 and
26, respectively. In both, Figures 7A and 7B, the openings
27 for a screw to be placed are shown, with the head of said screw abutting against
surface
87. Said screw will extend through borings
83 (Figure 6A and B) and thus permit tightening fixing element
24 around seat tube
15.
[0035] Figures 8 show a second embodiment of the support device of the present invention. In this
embodiment, a washer
40 is placed between the intermediate element comprising the spring
28 and the shock absorber element
29, and the lower part
26 of the fixing element
24. With the washer
40 at this position, the distance between axle
5 and seat tube
15 is increased by the thickness of the washer
40, thus increasing the rear seat height of the wheelchair.
[0036] It is clear that washers of various thickness can be used for increasing rear seat
height. However, the washer could also be used to keep rear seat height constant when
a spring and/or shock absorber element smaller than that shown in Figure 2 is used.
Springs of different strengths can thus be employed without affecting rear seat height.
Accordingly, the combination of intermediate element
10 and washer
40 allows various adjustments according to the wheelchair user's preferences.
[0037] Figure 9 and 10 show a third embodiment of the support device of the present invention. Instead of
a spring/shock absorber element, the intermediate element consists in a rigid element
50. The rigid element
50 is put in place when the spring and shock absorbing function is not desired.
[0038] As is better shown in
Figure 10, the rigid element
50 resembles a hollow column, with the screw
30 extending along the central, vertical axe of said column. In this embodiment, rear
seat height is adjusted to a relatively low level, rigid element
50 being shorter than the spring
28 in Figure 3. For this reason, small washers
51 are situated between the head
31 of screw
30 and sleeve
35, to account for the length of screw
30. Instead of small washers
51, a shorter screw
30 could, of course, be used with the same result. However, as the situation is in Figure
10, the head
31, abutting against a ring
52, for example a washer, situated below small washers
51, is now situated lower in pivot part
23 and occupies nearly all space (
33 in Figure 3) provided between the central ends of pins
36 and
37.
[0039] Similar to the situation in Figure 3, the vertically offset, ring-shaped surfaces
47, 48 on the pivot part
23 and
49, 53 on the lower part
26 of fixing element
24 provide for the lateral stabilisation of the intermediate element
10, here rigid element
50.
[0040] The rear seat height may be adjusted by using rigid elements of different lengths
and/or by using washers as discussed hereunder.
[0041] Figure 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment similar to that of Figures 9 and 10, but with increased
rear seat height, due to the presence of washer
60 placed above rigid element
50, and below fixing element
24. As in the embodiments with the spring and/or the shock absorber element, the washer
is clamped, together with the rigid element
50, by screw
30 (not visible), between pivot part
23 and fixing element
24, thus heightening the overall position of seat tube
15 with respect to axle
5, and, in consequence with respect to the ground on which the wheelchair is placed.
[0042] The purpose of washer
60 is to increase the distance provided by intermediate element, here rigid element
50. In this embodiment, contrary to the one of Figure 10, only one instead of two small
washers
51 is placed between head
31 of screw
30 and the inner sleeve
35 of pivot part
23, because of the increased distance, resulting in increased rear seat height, provided
by the combination of rigid element
50 and washer
60. The washer
60 has an upper profile that fits the profile of the lower end of lower part
26 of fixing element
24, and a lower profile that fits the profile of the upper end of intermediate element,
here rigid element
50.
[0043] Figure 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the support device of the present invention, comprising
two washers
60, 100 positioned directly above and below, respectively, of rigid element
50, thus further increasing rear seat height. The lower washer
100 is, in this case, placed between pivot part
23 and rigid element
50.
[0044] The advantages of the support device of the present invention in terms of adjusting
parameters of the wheelchair will now be described.
[0045] The support device of the present invention allows adjustment of rear seat height
and of absorption characteristics.
[0046] Accordingly, the intermediate element
(28, 29; 50) can be easily removed, replaced and or supplemented with washers
40 to increase rear seat height. To this end, the head
31 of screw
30, situated in pivot part
23, is accessible and can be loosened with a suitable tool, by the wheelchair user or
technical staff of a wheelchair vendor. Screw
30 being loosened, fixing element
24 can be manually separated from said screw and pivot part
23. The latter can be pivoted towards the front of the wheelchair and the intermediate
element, for example a spring
28 and a shock absorber
29 may be further supplemented with a washer
40, or may be replaced by a rigid element
50, with or without washer
60, 100. Once all desired replacements or supplements being put on pivot part
23, the latter is pivoted back to its substantially vertical position and the lower part
26 of fixing element
24 is fitted unto exchanged and/or supplemented intermediate element. Then, screw
30 is again tightened to clamp the intermediate element, with or without washers, between
pivot part
23 and fixing element
24, thus connecting the seat tube
15 to axle
5.
[0047] Absorption parameters of the wheelchair may be adjusted by selecting suitable intermediate
elements. A spring
28 can be used alone, but preferably in combination with a shock absorber element
29, the latter having the purpose of absorbing shocks. Of course, springs of different
strengths and elastomers of different materials, such as rubbers, or gas filled shock
absorbers exhibiting different absorbing characteristics may be selected according
to the wheelchair users preferences or physical properties, for example according
to the weight of the wheelchair user. Also rigid elements
50 may be used to provide intermediate element, thus minimizing shock absorption and
cushioning properties of the support device and providing an overall wheelchair nearly
devoid of these properties. The later may be desired if the wheelchair is to be used
on even, flat surfaces and/or if loss of kinetic energy by absorption is to be prevented,
for example in wheelchair races.
[0048] It should further be noted that the above described arrangement combining the intermediate
element (spring
28 and shock absorber
29) with the related design of the left and right frame tubes
6, 7 is unique in the wheelchair industry. This for reasons that for the first time, special
attention is given to solve the problem of shock loads transmission into the spinal
and skeleton parts of the human body. By means of an oriented non swinging spring
- damper concept, the vibrations induced during wheelchair movements are absorbed
and accordingly not transmitted into the spinal and skeleton parts of the human body.
1. A support device (10) for supporting a seat (2) on an axle (5) of a wheelchair (1), comprising an exchangeable intermediate element (28, 29; 50) detachably fixed at one of its ends to a chassis of the seat (2) and at its other end to the axle (5), said intermediate element determining damping characteristics of the wheelchair and
the height of a rear part of the seat, and wherein the intermediate element (28, 29; 50) can be selected according to preferences of a user of the wheelchair to adjust said
dampening characteristics and said height of the rear part of the seat, characterized in that it further comprises a pivot part (23) to be pivotably fixed to a centre part (20), said centre part (20) being rigidly and detachably attachable to the axle (5), and a fixing element (24) suitable for fixing the support device to the chassis of the seat (2), wherein the intermediate element (28, 29; 50) is situated between the pivot part (23) and the fixing element (24).
2. The support device (10) of claim 1, wherein said intermediate element is arranged as part of said support
device so as to be readily removable by manipulation of one screw.
3. The support device (10) of claims 1 or 2, wherein a screw, with the intermediate element in place, is guided
in parallel, preferably coaxially to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate
element.
4. The support device (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exchangeable intermediate element
is pivotally attached on the axle (5).
5. The support device (10) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a central boring (75, 95) extending from the pivot part (23) through the intermediate element (28, 29; 50) and to the fixing element (24), said boring housing a screw (30) for fixably and detachably connecting said pivot part (23), intermediate element (28, 29; 50) and fixing element (24).
6. The support device (10) of claim 5, wherein the pivot part (23) is pivotally seated in said centre part (20) through a pair of left and right pins (36, 37) extending in parallel to the axle (5), one end of each pin being lodged in left and right borings (38, 39) of the centre part (20), respectively, an other end of each pin extending into a left and right boring (72, 73) of the pivot part (23), said pins (36, 37) thus providing a pivot axis for the pivot part (23).
7. The support device (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate element (28, 29) comprises at least one elastic element.
8. The support device (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate element (28, 29) comprises a spring and/or a shock absorber element, in particular an elastomer element
(29) located in the lacuna provided by the spiral turns of a spring (28).
9. The support device (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one washer (40; 60, 100) is located between the intermediate element (28, 29; 50) and the fixing element (24) and/or between the intermediate element (28, 29; 50) and the pivot part (23).
10. The support device (10) of claim 1, in which the intermediate part is rigid.
11. The support device (10) of claim 1, wherein the centre part (20) is a one single piece element.
12. The support device (10) of claim 11, wherein the centre part (20) further comprises two lodgings (66, 77) for attaching two frame tubes (6, 7).
13. A wheelchair (1) comprising a seat (2) and two main wheels (3, 4) connected by an axle (5) and further comprising a support device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support device is detachably
fixed at one of its end to a chassis of the seat and at its other end to the axle
(5) through its centre part (20) attached to the middle part of said axle (5), said centre part (20) being arranged to receive the rear ends of two left and right main frame tubes (6, 7) of the wheelchair.
1. Stützvorrichtung (10) zum Abstützen eines Sitzes (2) auf einer Achse (5) eines Rollstuhls
(1), umfassend ein austauschbares Zwischenelement (28,29; 50), das an einem seiner
Enden an einem Gerüst des Sitzes (2) und an seinem anderen Ende an der Achse (5) lösbar
befestigt ist, wobei das Zwischenelement die Dämpfungseigenschaften des Rollstuhls
und die Höhe eines Rückteils des Sitzes bestimmt, und wobei das Zwischenelement (28,
29; 50) gemäß den Vorlieben eines Benutzers des Rollstuhls zum Einstellen der Dämpfungseigenschaften
und der Höhe des Rückteils des Sitzes ausgewählt werden kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ferner ein Schwenkteil (23) zum schwenkbaren Befestigen an einem Mittelteil (20),
wobei das Mittelteil (20) starr und lösbar an der Achse (5) befestigt werden kann,
und ein Befestigungselement (24) umfasst, das zum Befestigen der Stützvorrichtung
an dem Gerüst des Sitzes (2) geeignet ist, wobei sich das Zwischenelement (28, 29;
50) zwischen dem Schwenkteil (23) und dem Befestigungselement (24) befindet.
2. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Zwischenelement als Teil der Stützvorrichtung
angeordnet ist, um so durch Manipulieren einer Schraube einfach entfernt werden zu
können.
3. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei eine Schraube mit dem Zwischenelement
vor Ort parallel, vorzugsweise koaxial, zur Längsrichtung des Zwischenelements geführt
wird.
4. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das austauschbare
Zwischenelement schwenkbar an der Achse (5) befestigt ist.
5. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, ferner umfassend eine
zentrale Bohrung (75, 95), die sich von dem Schwenkteil (23) durch das Zwischenelement
(28, 29; 50) und zum Befestigungselement (24) erstreckt, wobei die Bohrung eine Schraube
(30) aufnimmt, um das Schwenkteil (23), das Zwischenelement (28, 29; 50) und das Befestigungselement
(24) fest und lösbar zu verbinden.
6. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 5, wobei das Schwenkteil (23) über ein Paar linker
und rechter Stifte (36, 37)schwenkbar im Mittelteil (20) sitzt, wobei sich die Stifte
parallel zu der Achse (5) erstrecken, wobei ein Ende jedes Stifts in linken bzw. rechten
Bohrungen (38, 39) des Mittelteils (20) untergebracht ist, wobei sich ein anderes
Ende jedes Stifts in eine linke und rechte Bohrung (72, 73) des Schwenkteils (23)
erstreckt, wobei die Stifte (36, 37) so eine Schwenkachse für das Schwenkteil (23)
bereitstellen.
7. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Zwischenelement
(28, 29) mindestens ein elastisches Element umfasst.
8. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Zwischenelement
(28,29) ein Feder- und/oder Stoßdämpferelement umfasst, insbesondere ein Elastomerelement
(29), das in der Lücke angeordnet ist, die von den spiralförmigen Windungen einer
Feder (28) bereitgestellt wird.
9. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei mindestens ein
Distanzstück (40; 60,100) zwischen dem Zwischenelement (28, 29; 50) und dem Befestigungselement
(24) und/oder zwischen dem Zwischenelement (28, 29; 50) und dem Schwenkteil (23) angeordnet
ist.
10. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Zwischenelement starr ist.
11. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Mittelteil (20) ein einstückig ausgebildetes
Element ist.
12. Stützvorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 11, wobei das Mittelteil (20) ferner zwei Aufnahmen
(66, 77) zum Befestigen von zwei Rahmenrohren (6, 7) umfasst.
13. Rollstuhl (1), umfassend einen Sitz (2) und zwei Räder (3, 4), die durch eine Achse
(5) verbunden sind und ferner umfassend eine Stützvorrichtung (10) nach einem der
vorherigen Ansprüche, wobei die Stützvorrichtung an einem ihrer Enden an einem Gerüst
eines Sitzes und am anderen Ende an der Achse (5) über das Mittelteil (20) der Achse
(5) lösbar befestigt ist, wobei das Mittelteil (20) zum Aufnehmen der hinteren Enden
der linken und rechten Hauptrahmenrohre (6, 7) des Rollstuhls angeordnet ist.
1. Dispositif (10) de support destiné à soutenir un siège (2) sur un essieu (5) d'un
fauteuil roulant (1), comportant un élément intermédiaire (28, 29 ; 50) échangeable
fixé de manière détachable au niveau d'une de ses extrémités à un châssis du siège
(2) et au niveau de son autre extrémité à l'essieu (5), ledit élément intermédiaire
déterminant des caractéristiques d'amortissement du fauteuil roulant et la hauteur
d'une partie arrière du siège, et l'élément intermédiaire (28, 29 ; 50) pouvant être
sélectionné en fonction de préférences d'un utilisateur du fauteuil roulant pour régler
lesdites caractéristiques d'amortissement et ladite hauteur de la partie arrière du
siège, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre une partie (23) de pivot destinée à être fixée de manière pivotante
à une partie centrale (20), ladite partie centrale (20) pouvant être rattachée de
manière rigide et détachable à l'essieu (5), et un élément (24) de fixation convenant
pour fixer le dispositif de support au châssis du siège (2), l'élément intermédiaire
(28, 29 ; 50) étant situé entre la partie (23) de pivot et l'élément (24) de fixation.
2. Dispositif (10) de support selon la revendication 1, ledit élément intermédiaire étant
agencé au sein dudit dispositif de support de façon à être aisément démontable par
manipulation d'une seule vis.
3. Dispositif (10) de support selon les revendications 1 ou 2, une vis, l'élément intermédiaire
étant en place, étant guidée en parallèle, de préférence coaxialement à la direction
longitudinale de l'élément intermédiaire.
4. Dispositif (10) de support selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
l'élément intermédiaire échangeable étant en liaison pivot sur l'essieu (5).
5. Dispositif (10) de support selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
comportant en outre un alésage central (75, 95) s'étendant à partir de la partie (23)
de pivot à travers l'élément intermédiaire (28, 29 ; 50) et jusqu'à l'élément (24)
de fixation, ledit alésage logeant une vis (30) servant à relier de manière fixable
et détachable ladite partie (23) de pivot, ledit élément intermédiaire (28, 29 ; 50)
et ledit élément (24) de fixation.
6. Dispositif (10) de support selon la revendication 5, la partie (23) de pivot étant
en appui pivotant dans ladite partie centrale (20) par l'intermédiaire d'une paire
de broches gauche et droite (36, 37) s'étendant parallèlement à l'essieu (5), une
extrémité de chaque broche étant logée dans des alésages gauche et droit (38, 39)
de la partie centrale (20), respectivement, une autre extrémité de chaque broche s'étendant
jusque dans un alésage gauche et droit (72, 73) de la partie (23) de pivot, lesdites
broches (36, 37) constituant ainsi un axe de pivotement pour la partie (23) de pivot.
7. Dispositif (10) de support selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
l'élément intermédiaire (28, 29) comportant au moins un élément élastique.
8. Dispositif (10) de support selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
l'élément intermédiaire (28, 29) comportant un ressort et/ou un élément amortisseur,
en particulier un élément (29) en élastomère situé dans le vide ménagé par les spires
d'un ressort (28).
9. Dispositif (10) de support selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
au moins une rondelle (40; 60, 100) étant située entre l'élément intermédiaire (28,
29 ; 50) et l'élément (24) de fixation et/ou entre l'élément intermédiaire (28, 29
; 50) et la partie (23) de pivot.
10. Dispositif (10) de support selon la revendication 1, la partie intermédiaire étant
rigide.
11. Dispositif (10) de support selon la revendication 1, la partie centrale (20) étant
un élément d'une seule pièce.
12. Dispositif (10) de support selon la revendication 11, la partie centrale (20) comportant
en outre deux logements (66, 77) servant à rattacher deux tubes (6, 7) d'ossature.
13. Fauteuil roulant (1) comportant un siège (2) et deux roues principales (3, 4) reliées
par un essieu (5) et comportant en outre un dispositif (10) de support selon l'une
quelconque des revendications précédentes, ledit dispositif de support étant fixé
de manière détachable au niveau d'une de ses extrémités à un châssis du siège et au
niveau de son autre extrémité à l'essieu (5) via sa partie centrale (20) rattachée
à la partie médiane dudit essieu (5), ladite partie centrale (20) étant disposée de
façon à recevoir les extrémités arrière de deux tubes gauche et droit (6, 7) d'ossature
principale du fauteuil roulant.